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Social Queen Gets Up In Time In Gallorette Handicap

BALTIMORE,MD 05-16-09---Richard Santulli’s Social Queen caught All Is Vanity in the very last jump to win the 58th running of the $100,000 Gallorette Handicap for fillies and mares Saturday at Pimlico.

The Grade 3 grass race for fillies and mares attracted seven starters, including Dynaforce, the 4-5 favorite. Social Queen, trained by Alan Goldberg, came flying late on the far outside under Rafael Bejarano to win by a head. The daughter of Dynaformer ran 1 1/16 miles over a firm turf in 1:41.84 to edge All Is Vanity by a head. Tejida finished another 2 ¼ lengths back in third. The Bill Mott-trained Dynaforce attended the pace but faded in the drive and finished fifth.

Social Queen had been winless since capturing the Grade 3 Eatontown Stakes on the turf at Monmouth Park last summer. Including today, she has now won four stakes on the grass for her connections. She paid $20.20.

Gallorette Handicap Quotes

Barry Weisbord, part-owner, Social Queen -- “We thought she was going to run well, but we weren’t sure there was enough pace in the race. As it turned out, they didn’t run that fast on the front end, so he (jockey Rafael Bejarano) wanted to drop her to the back and come wide, and she ran them down.”

Rafael Bejarano, winning jockey, Social Queen – “I knew I was going to win, because I still had a lot of horse. My horse made a big, big run. In the last couple jumps, I knew I was going to win – not for sure, though, because the other horse was still running, too. My horse put her head in front at the wire.”

Christopher Lorieum, assistant to trainer Christophe Clement, All Is Vanity, 2nd – “Last year, she was a little bit keen in her races. Today, she rated beautifully. She was traveling comfortably, saving ground. She came out at the quarter-pole and just got outrun in the last sixteenth of a mile. I thought she had it. She ran great. No excuses, you could not ask for a better performance, except winning.”

Alan Garcia, jockey, All Is Vanity, 2nd – “I had a good trip. I don’t have any excuses. I got beat by a better horse today. This filly was kind. She was relaxed. She made her run, but the other one was a little better today.”

Bill Mott, trainer, beaten favorite, Dynaforce, 5th – “She’s been off a long time, so with that in mind, no complaints.”

Garrett Gomez, jockey, beaten favorite Dynaforce, 5th – “I had the perfect trip, she just wasn’t good enough. She stayed on well; she just didn’t quicken. Overall, she didn’t run horribly.”